Concluding Thoughts: John 19-21

I've come to the end of my study of John with this post. I shouldn't have been surprised, but I didn't know I would enjoy reading from John's perspective so much. It's a good exercise to read a whole chapter and sit back to think through what was written. I gained so much from just doing that. There were other thoughts that I reflected on and didn't write down. I plan on doing another study of a book of the Bible and share my thoughts here again. Now, on to the last chapters of John!

John 19: What Moves Us?

I’m touched that Jesus while dying thought to care for his mother, and also sickened at the thought of a person watching their family die in front of them. I’m reflecting on how calculative the priests were in their arguments in order to make sure they persuaded Pilate to crucify Jesus. Sometimes, we too are so stuck on our agenda that we will make any kind of argument to persuade others into seeing things the same way we see things, or into doing something we desire. If we find ourselves struggling to persuade another of our opinions and our arguments are going awry, it’s a good idea to just stop and reconsider our motivations.

I’m also curious about the statement Jesus made to Pilate where he said that the one who had delivered him to Pilate had the “greater sin”. (Verse 11) Jesus responded this way after Pilate asked whether Jesus understood the power that Pilate had to determine his fate. The answer Jesus gave scared Pilate. Jesus’ responses touched on higher and deeper realities - about heaven and the status of the soul, while Pilate only questioned whether Jesus posed a physical threat to their livelihoods. Maybe Pilate became afraid because he realized Jesus did indeed pose a threat, but not a physical one. Jesus made him, just as he had with others, reflect on the status of his eternity. This comment about sin may have shook Pilate’s confidence in his role in determining Jesus’ death. Jesus' words and the Holy Spirit still do this today - they cause us to step back and think about higher and deeper realities; things that are more important and critical to our eternal status.

John 20: Power

Wait on the Lord and patiently seek him. That’s the thought that comes to me when I read that the disciples went home while Mary stayed at the tomb. There's power and reward in waiting and patiently allowing Jesus to unfold what he wants to show us and do in our lives, in his timing.

I’ve never thought about what the social and political atmosphere must have been like after Jesus’ death. Twice it says that the disciples locked their doors when they were together. There was real fear regarding the power of the Jewish leaders. These must have been truly dangerous days to proclaim faith in Jesus Christ. The book of John reminds me of our need for the Holy Spirit. When Jesus visited his disciples, he breathed on them and prayed for them to receive the Holy Spirit. Living in the dangerous times they were in, they needed the Holy Spirit for strength, courage, and for an increased faith in order to spread the gospel as commissioned by Jesus. There is power in the Holy Spirit! It is incredible that the same Holy Spirit that empowered the disciples back then, is the same Holy Spirit that empowers us today!

John 21: Stay Focused

The conversation between Jesus and Simon Peter reminds me to focus on what God requires of me, and not on the calling of other brothers and sisters in Christ. Sometimes, especially when we are following leaders within our church, we are guilty of seeing their shortcomings or seeing things being left undone and just pointing them out, to each other or to ourselves. I am definitely guilty of doing this. It’s because it’s not our job to do X, Y, or Z. The conversation here reminds me to think on- what if we see things-shortcomings, because God has purposed that we see them? What if it is our mission to step up in those areas? Don’t worry about how Jesus will bless another person or how much he will require for another person to do. We all fit uniquely in the church body, so we should acknowledge and accept the unique purpose for us- and focus on doing it and Christ’s command to simply “follow me”.